Jewelry



JEWELRY Filed April 28, 1938 fa HHHHIIII- I 35 l I IIIIIIIHI HIIINVENTOR 9 23 k Zlj ATTORNEY Oct. 31, 1939. L. K. STUPELL JEWELRY FiledApril 28, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Zea l1. lizgveZZ 115,3"ATTORNEY.

Patented Get. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

The subject of this invention is ornamental jewelry, and the inventiondeals, more particularly, with that type of jewlery in which anornamental or significatory component is de- 5 tachably carried by asuitable mount. This mount is usually one equipped with prongs forattaching the complete article to a lady's handbag, a piece of luggageor the like, or having eyes or hooks for chain-suspension as in a manstieclasp, or provided with a hinged-pin and keeper as in a lady'sbrooch.

The method of attachment of the ornamentmount to any desired support isimmaterial so far as the present invention is concerned.

The special utility toward which the present invention is directed, thatis, the field of usefulness for the invention now deemed to be a specialone, is that of providing a novel and valuable combination including amount, a plurality of selectively and interchangeably assemblableornamental or significatory elements, and means for mounting theseelements on said mount in such manner that any desired combination ofsaid elements can be thus interengaged, and practically instantaneouslyand without the use of heat or special or indeed any tools, and if needbe easily demounted when intended, yet normally maintained on the mountwithout any chance of casual or accidental disengagement -from nicelyprevised locations thereon.

The paramount utility of the invention, as the same is now appraised,and this in a special field, is when the ornamental elements are lettersof the alphabet, and so arranged on and combined with the mount as todisplay a persons initials, either non-overlappingly adjacent eachother, or somewhat lapped over each other as in so-called monograms. Inorder to adopt inclusive language, and for purposes of brevity, any andall ornamental or significatory elements which are or could be used withadvantage according to the principle of the present invention, whetherinitials or not, will hereinafter be called initials.

I The initials of the present invention can be of any suitable materialor materials; sheet metal being preferably used, so that they can bereadily one or more bars or slot-framing members which are resilient.

Essential'features of the present invention include amount characterizedby one or more slot-frames so constructed that a bar-like memberconstituting a frame-side, or an equivalent beam-member, is resilient,that is, elastically deformable, by a bowing or arching of suchbeammember along its length and between its opposite ends or roots andinduced by a camor wedge-action. This wedge-action is efiectuated by oneor more suitable projections (hereinafter for convenience called a lug)offset from the back of the initial. The described resiliency of the oneor more beam-members of the mount, and a cooperant shaping of the one ormore lugs carried by the initial for contributing said wedgeaction,combine to form the sole mounting means of the invention as between anyinitial and the mount to carry the same or to carry the same and aplurality of its fellows.

In carrying out the invention, the preferably elongate and relativelynarrow width frame opening either can be of rather considerable length,for the accommodation of the one or more lugs of more than one initial,or it can be relatively short; in which latter case there desirablywould be as many'of. these openings, or slots, that is, as manyintegrated or joined frames, as the number of initials intended to beattached to the mount.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a, mount as acarrier for a plurality of separately made initials, for example aplurality ofinitials which are variously to overlap each other in orderto obtain a monogram effect, and yeta mount so small and slenderizedalong the length of such monogram and located in a plane in rear of themonogram-plane, as to make the mount not only the most inconspicuouspart of the entire article but apparently merely a slight andsubstantially invisible bar secured to the rear of the monogram andadded solely for the purpose of carrying at its own rear pronglike orhinged-pin or other devices having to be present to allow securement ofthe complete article to any base or support desired. Otherwise stated,.a prime object of the present invention is to provide a means forselectively assembling and securely mounting various initials,practically instantaneously upon order of a customer, without having touse riveting or soldering, or such distortion of any part as to deformthe same permanently (or other than negligibly when temporarilydistorted, and at the same time to avoid the necessity, as to theparticular collection of initials to be secured as a group on a singlemount, of enclosing the terminal points of the initials or theperimetral bounds of the group of initials in a frame according to theteachings of U. S. patent to me No. 1,921,437.

Another particular object of the present invention is to provide auseful auxiliary, as a part of the mounting means between an initial(that is, more specifically, between that portion of an initialcomprised of the one or more lugs carried thereby), and the slot-frameor frames of the mount. This auxiliary is a positioning means, partiallycarried by the slot or opening in the frame, and partially carried bythe one or more lugs of the initial; and its function is to predeterminethe exact location which the mounted initial will take when attached tothe mount, where, as is desirable, the length of the frameopening orslot is greater than the length of the lug-equipment of the initial.

The invention, and the above and other of its various objects andadvantages will be more clearly understood from the followingdescription of certain of the now preferred embodiments of theinvention, as these are shown (but merely by way of illustration and notby way of limitation) in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of one of the initials of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is, on what would ordinarily be a much enlarged scale, a frontelevation of a mount differing from that of Fig. l inthat the former iscomposed of a plurality of slot-frames each having a fairly short slot,and the latter is a single frame having a long slot.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the mount of Fig. 1, asthe same would appear were the beam-members constituting the longer ortop and bottom si es of the several slots doubly beveled as in Fig. 7,or singly beveled as in Fig. 13. v

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical section, taken on the line 1-! of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is in full lines a similar section through the lug of theinitial; the frame of Fig. 7 being shown in dot-and-dash lines toindicate that the same and a lug of an initial can be dimensioned insuch manner that the slot-frame is under tension during its mountingengagement with said lug.

Fig. 9 is a similar view, showing these parts in the engagement lastreferred to.

Fig. 1G is a view similar to Fig. '7, but showing said beam-membersbeveled from front to back of the mount.

Fig, 11 is a View similar to Fig. 8, showing in dot-and-dash linesbeam-members of the slotframe bevelled as last described, and in fulllines an initial-lug for coaction therewith to place the frame undertension during its mounting engagement with said lug.

12 is a view similar to Fig. 9, but with the parts of Figs. and 11 inengagement.

Fig. 13, also, is a view similar to Fig. 7, but showing saidbeam-members beveled from back to front of the mount.

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing in dot-and-dash linesbeam-members of the slotframe beveled as in Fig. 13, and in full linesan initial-lug for coaction therewith to place the frame under tensionduring its mounting engagement with said lug.

Fig 15 is a view similar to Fig. 9, but with the parts of Figs. 13 and14, in engagement.

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing another embodiment, andone which varies, among other ways, from the embodiment of Fig. l, inthat an initial-lug, and a cooperant slotframe of the mount, are soconstituted that while a beam-member is momentarily placed under tensionduring mounting of the initial, such ten sion is relieved followingconclusion of the mounting operation.

Fig. 17 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged vertical section, taken fragmentarily along theline hil8 of Fig. 16, showing the initial-lug and a slot-frame in therelation last described, that is, with the initial secured or coupled tothe mount but with the beam-members of the latter relieved of tension.

Fig, 19 is a top plan view, on what would ordinarily be a much enlargedscale, of the mount of Fig. 16.

Fig. 20 is a front elevation of said mount.

21 is a View similar to Fig. 20, but showing the mount modified toinclude the aforesaid auxiliary, that is, the means for positioning aninitial previsedly along the length of the mount incidental to attachingthe initial to the mount.

Fig. 22 is an enlarged vertical section, taken on the line 2222 of Fig.21.

Fig. 23 is a similar view, but showing an initial engaged with themount.

Fig, 24 is a view similar to Fig. l, but one wherein the mount isslotted as in Fig. 5, and illustrating a modification wherein thelug-equipment of an initial is comprised of a plurality of lugs.

Fig. 25 is a rear elevation of one of the initials of Fig. 24.

Fig. 26 is a view similar to Fig. 19, but illustrating a variation ofmount whereby various initials selected for securement thereto can beoverlapped, so as to make a monogram, but differently overlapped than asin Fig. 17 yet so as to lie in planes parallel to the plane of the mountinstead of inclined thereto as in Fig. 2.

Fig. 27 is a View similar to Figs. 5 and 20, but showing anothervariation of mount wherein a pluralityv of initials, overlapped or not,can be placed at different levels across the mount.

Fig. 28 is a view similar to Fig. 7, but showing another modification.

Fig. 29 is also a view similar to Fig. '7, but showing still anothermodification.

In all the exemplifying forms of the invention selected for illustrationin these drawings, it will be noted that each initial, shown here as ofscript style, is provided on its rear with a diminutive lug-equipment.In Figs. 1, 4, l6, 17, these lugs, marked 30, are shown single lugs. InFigs. 24 and 25, they are shown as plurally carried by the initials; inthese illustrated cases each initial being shown as equipped with twolugs 31.

In all the said illustrative forms of the invention, the mount is shownas including one or more slots for taking the initial lugs.

In Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 6, and in Figs. 16, 1'7, 19 and 20, and also inFig. 21, in- Fig. 26 and in Fig. 2'7, the mount marked is shown asprovided with separate slots for the lug of each initial. On the otherhand, in.Figs..5 and 24, forms of the invention are shown wherein themount, marked 32, is provided with a single long slot for taking thelugs of all the initials to be assembled on the mount. At its rear themount can be provided with any suitable attaching means, .this means inevery case being illustrated as comprising a hinged-pin 33 and a keeper34.

Referring to said slots, those of the form of the invention shown inFigs. 1, 2, 3 and 6 are marked 35; those of the form of the inventionshown in Figs. 16, 19, 20 are marked 35a; those of the form of theinvention shownin Fig. 21 are marked 35b; and those of the form of theinvention shown in Fig. 27 are marked 35c.

Referring to the single-slot embodiments, the slot of Fig. is marked35m; and the slot of Fig. 24 is marked 3511,.

The mount is most satisfactorily made of a strip of metal which isinherently elastic or resilient; such as spring brass (to be laterusually silver, gold or chromium plated), or of a suitably resilientprecious-metal alloy.

It will be noted that all the slots are subtended by top and bottomframe members, which are really beam-members, in that their oppositeends are roots since said ends mark the termini of two opposite sides ofa unitary substantially rectangular frame structure enclosing a slot.Such a beam-member is shown, for instance, in Fig. 5

at 36m or 31m, in Fig. 6 at 36 or 31, in Fig. 20 at 360: or 37a, in Fig.24 at 3% or 3171, and in Fig. 27 at 360 or 310.

Throughout the views,'an initial is marked N. Some of the variouspossible formations for the gripping edges of the beam-membersparallelling the slots, as well also as some of the various possiblecoacting shapes for the lugs, both cross-sectionally thereof andheightwise thereof, are shown in the different views. Referring first toFigs. 3 and '7 through 9, these beam-member edges are shown as V-shapedor doubly beveled. They are shown as similarly so beveled also in Figs.22 and 23. In Figs. through 12, they are shown as beveled in onedirection relative to the front face of the mount; and in Figs. 13through 15, they are shown also as singly beveled, but in the oppositedirection. 1

The lugs, it will be noted, can be made so as to have their free endssubstantially flush with "the rear face of the mount, or projected toany extent beyond such face, when an initial is in finally insertedposition on the mount. In Figs. 9, 12, 23 and 28, the lugs do notproject beyond the back of the mount; in Figs. 3, 15, 18 and 29, they dothus project.

Referring now to the aforesaid auxiliary, that is, to the means forautomatically positioning an initial very accurately longitudinally of aslot, this is shown in Figs. 21 through 23, and in Fig.

27, and also in Figs. 28 and 29, as comprising a pair of recesses 38 or39 in the beveled edges of the beam-members parallelling a slot.Desirably, these recesses are formed when the stock is punched to formthe slot and shape of the mount;

. and, also desirably, these recesses are of the same length, and aresubstantially as long as the lugs in its dimension transverse to theinitial, and they are vertically aligned, and formed in the front faceof the mount. Thus what may be called a step or shoulder is formed atthe top and bottom of the slot. As will be noted, particularly fromFigs. 22 and 23, the lug is accommodatingly stepped or shouldered.

Although various forms of beveling for the beam-member edges are shownand have been described, such beveling is not necessarily em recommendedthat one or both of the faces of the slot be indented, and that the lugbe provided with appropriate teats as indicated at 42.

Furthermore, according to the invention, and as has already been pointedout in the short descriptions of the views of the drawings, theinvention can be carried out when the slot-enclosing frame is soconstructed that, although it is momentarily placed under tension duringmounting of an initial, such tension is relieved on completion of themounting operation. An arrangement of this kind is illustrated in Fig.18, and also in Fig. 29. In such case, it is desirable to have the freeend of the lug so shaped as to constitute a special terminal cam orwedge for spreading the frame during entrance of the lug. As shown, thisterminal lug formation is a rounded head marked 43 in Fig. 18 and 44 inFig. 29. The initial is attached to the mount merely by forcing thishead of the lug through the slot of the frame. Said head, acting as awedge or cam, spreads the frame and holds it spread during passing ofthe head through the slot, and then, as the head passes beyond the slot,the frame, due to its inherent resiliency, springs back to reduce theslot to its normal width, which is merely substantially that of theshank portion of the lug between the lug-head and the back of theinitial.

Other variations and modifications are possible within the scope of theinvention as defined in the claims following, which, construed asbroadly as is consistent with the prior art, are to be the solemeasurers of the scope of protection contemplated. Any feature orfeatures of one or more of the illustrated or other embodiments can beused without others. Anything shown in the drawings, as well as anythingsaid in the foregoing speclfication, is to be taken in an illustrativesense only, and not by way of limitation.

I claim:

1. In an article of jewelry of the kind described, the combination of amount having a slot-frame including two substantially bar-like resilientmembers constituting a pair of opposite sides for such frame; aplurality of selectively interchangeable initials; and means formounting such an initial in a slot of the frame, such slot being anopening extending all the way through the frame from the front to theback thereof, and said means including a lug offset from the rear faceof the initial and elongated in the direction of length of the slot andlong enough to be sent all the way through said opening and having anenlarged portion thereof projected beyond the back of the frame, saidenlarged lug portion constituting part of a means for locking theinitial non-rockingly on the frame, said locking means being madeeffective by relative movement between said lug-portion and one of saidbar-like 2. In an article of jewelry of the kind described,

the combination of a mount having a slot therein the form of an aperturetherethrough bounded along a long side thereof by a resilient. beam 5-member included in a slot-frame carried by the mount; a plurality ofselectively interchangeably assemblable initials; and means formounting, such an initial in said slot and including a relativelydiminutive lug on the back of the initial 0; shaped so as to beinsertable into said slot against the resiliency of said beam-member andlong to be sent all way through said aperthen to have a portion thereofvprojected being so established as to constiof a means for locking theinitial on a terminal portion of the lug being ng least one of saidbar-like members to abnormal position during insertion of the lug saidaperture as a consequence of such inn then by the automatic return ofthe "--lilre member last-mentioned to normal position clue to its cy.

3. The combination of claim 2, in which said frame opening is elongatedin the general direction of greatest dimension of the frame, and saidframe opening is partially bounded by a beammember resiliently yieldableto allow increase of the width of said opening, said beam-member at-.its edge facing the opening being thinned.

4. The combination of claim 2, in which said frame opening is elongatedand relatively attenuated to constitute a mere slot, and said slot ispartially bounded by a beam-member resiliently yieldable to allowincrease of the width of the slot, said beam-member at its edge facingthe slot having a bevel.

5. In combination, an initial-holder comprising a frame of resilientmaterial having an opening; and an initial including a main body and alesser body, said lesser body being a lug equipment carried on the rearface of the initial proper, said frame being of greater length than themaximum face dimension of said initial in one direction but of very muchless width than the maximum face dimension of the initial in theopposite direction; and means for holding an initial. on and in front ofthe frame, said means comprising shapings partially carried by said lugequipment and partially carried by the frame, said opening beingelongated to have a length several times its Width to constitute a slot,and said slot being lengthwisely subtended by a beam-member resilientlyboivable to allow temporary increase of the slot width, said beam-memberat its edge facing the slot being doubly beveled.

6. The combination of claim 2, in which said aperture is subtended by abeam-member resiliently archable and which beam-member is shoul- .deredalong a length of its slot-facing edge.

'7. In combination, an initial-holder comprising a frame of resilientmaterial having an opening; and an initial including a main body and alesser body, said lesser body being a lug equipment carried on the rearface of the initial proper, said frame being of greater length than themaximum face dimension of said initial in one direction but of very muchless width than the maximum face dimension of the initial in theopposite direction; and means for holding an initial on and in front ofthe frame, said means comprising shapings partially carried by said lugequipment and partially carried by the frame, there being an auxiliarypositioning means provided for said lesser body of the initial, saidmeans including a shouldering of said frame.

8. In combination, an initial-holder comprising a frame of resilientmaterial having an opening; and an initial including a main body and alesser body, said lesser body being a lug equipment carried on the rearface of the initial proper, said frame being of greater length than themaximum face dimension of said initial in one direction but of very muchless width than the maximum face dimension of the initial in theopposite direction; and means for holding an initial on and in front ofthe frame, said means comprising shapings partially carried by said lugequipment and partially carried by the frame, there being an auxiliarypositioning means provided for said lesser body of the initial, saidmeans including a shouldering of said lesser body and a complementaryrecess in said frame at the front side thereof.

9. In combination, an initial-holder comprising a bar-like member; aninitial including a main body and a lesser body, said lesser body beinga lug equipmentcarried on the rear face of the initial proper, saidbar-like member being of greater length than the maximum horizontaldimension of said initial; and means for holding the initial on and infront of the bar-like member, said bar-like member being of resilientmaterial and having a slot going all the way through the same andelongated lengthwise thereof, said holding means being partiallyinclusive of the material of the bar-like member adjacent to the slotand being partially carried by said lug equipment the shape of a portionat the free end of the lug elongated in the direction of the length ofthe slot, said lug equipment being dimensioned and shaped for insertionthrough said slot, and said holding means also including a locking meansmade effective by relative movement between the part of the holdingmeans carried by the lug equipment and a part of saidbar-like memberadjacent to its slot.

10, In combination, an initial-holder comprising a bar-like member; aninitial including main body and a lesser body, said lesser body being alug equipment carried on the rear face of the initial proper, saidbar-like member being of greater length than the maximum horizontaldimension of said initial; and means for holding the initial on and infront of the bar-like member, said bar-like member being of resilientmaterial and having a slot going all the way through the same andelongated lengthwise thereof, said holding means being partiallyinclusive of the material of the bar-like member adjacent to the slotand being partially carried by said lug equipment in the shape of aportion at the free end of the lug elongated in the direction of thelength of the slot, such locking being obtained by distortion of one ofthe two above-recited parts of said locking means relative to the otheraboverecited part thereof incidental to insertion of said lug equipmentthrough said slot, said lug equipment being shaped and dimensioned forinsertion through said slot without injury to the bar-like member.

LEO K. STUPELL.

